3 weeks old Wednesday, December 22nd

So Laine was 3 weeks yesterday. I've attached some recent photos of her. The last one is a few weeks ago, but is a good one and I must have left it off the last post! So I wanted to include!
We are doing well! Laine decided on her 3 week birthday to go from waking every two hours to giving me a 5 hour stretch, so for that I am thankful! She gave me ANOTHER 5 hour stretch last night too! So she went down at 10, woke at 3 then slept until 8:30AM. I FEEL LIKE A NEW WOMAN! But I certainly don't expect it to continue, but WOW, I needed that!

So some things about Laine currently:

-She spits up constantly. It's pretty bad! She isn't uncomfortable, the doctor says that as long as it isn't projectile and is NOT causing her pain, that it is normal (?) so we're just trying to treat it as best as we can (burping, etc.) but it isn't unusual for us to change clothes 4-5 times per day! Ugh! And sometimes, we can pat her back and/or lean her over for a burp for upwards of 15 minutes and get NOTHING, only to have her spit up immediately after we set her down! It is a challenge, but I know it will improve over time. In addition to this, we have her sleeping in her Rock 'N Play for the incline. We were just getting uncomfortable putting her on her back in the pack 'n play and then hear her spit up all over her own face. And we know they won't DROWN in their own spit up, but it was enough that an incline was obviously needed! I do have anxiety about her getting used to the Rock 'N Play for sleeping, but we are more comfortable with the incline and it really seems to help. I'd rather the spit up end up on her clothes than all over her face. :(
-Her umbilical cord came off, she can now have regular baths! She enjoys them much more than the sponge bath! We are contemplating giving them to her every evening to wash off the baby spit up smell! And it helps get her to sleep a little earlier when we give her one. Her baby skin doesn't need it daily, but it seems to help in other ways!
-She is still napping most of the day away. Sleep, eat, sleep, eat, sleep, and eat. All day long!
-She has taken to the pacifier! She can't really keep it in that long, but it helps calm her down when she is fussy, especially in the car! Anyone have any secrets for teaching a baby to keep the pacifier in better? It usually falls out of her mouth after about 5-10 minutes.
-We've had so many friends come by with meals since we had Laine! Brittany, Brooke, Sarah, Jill, Krista and Shannon so far! It has been such a blessing! Just when I start to feel a little overwhelmed with doing everything and don't think there is enough time in the day to make a real meal for my family, another friend magically appears at my door! We are thankful for dear friends!

Aidan playing with his sister. He is just so sweet with her!


Aidan holding his sister!


Aidan the reindeer, at his school Christmas party!


Sweet baby toes!


Alert!


Sarah and Addison meeting Laine!


Another alert photo! Oh hi there!


Our bedroom! The make shift nursery! I wanted to include this for the memory. Pillows, sheets that have been peed on, diapers, wipes, spit rags, this is our nighttime battleground! Ha!


David rocking Laine this AM for her nap. And Scooter guarding David, like usual. ha! Loyal dog.


Aidan holding his sister again!


Self-portrait!


Nana and her two grandbabies!